Kuwait elects its first ever women MPs

Kuwait has elected its first ever women MPs in a milestone for the politically and socially conservative societies of the Gulf.

By Richard Spencer in Dubai

9:53AM BST 17 May 2009

Four of 16 female candidates standing for the 50-seat parliament won seats in Saturday's vote, including leading activists for women's rights and the woman who became the kingdom's first minister four years ago.

Their gains and those of other liberal and independent candidates came at the expense of Sunni Islamist parties, who were expected to lose ground but suffered even greater losses than predicted.

The results will provide some reassurance to those who fear that more democracy in the Middle East will necessarily hand power to the forces of radical Islam.

Kuwait has had an elected parliament since 1963, shortly after it won independence from Britain, though the ruler, Emir Sheikh Sabah al-Ahmad al-Sabah, appoints the government.

As MPs have gained more powers and confidence in recent years, they have clashed with the ruling family. Parties are banned, but Islamist MPs have acted together to challenge ministers and oppose economic and social reforms.

The election was called after they attempted to use their right to question ministers including the prime minister, a nephew of the emir.

Among the winnners announced on Sunday was Massouma al-Mubarak. She was appointed planning minister in 2005, the same year that women were given the right to vote and stand for parliament, and later served at the ministries of transport and health.

Another was Rola Dashti, who had failed in previous election attempts in 2006 and 2008. A prominent activist, she has worked as a consultant for the World Bank.

The other two successful women, Aseel al-Awadhi and Salwa al-Jassar, are both professors at Kuwait University. All four women have doctorates from the United States, a symbol of the effect higher education levels for women across the Gulf are having on society.

"It's a victory for Kuwaiti women and a victory for Kuwaiti democracy," said Prof Aseel al-Awadhi. "This is a major leap forward."

The emir will still face challenges in the new parliament, as some of his most prominent critics, including two who were detained in the lead-up to the election, managed to retain their seats.